Starbucks has opened its doors at The Shops at Stonebridge in Cheshire!

The new coffee shop is located at 2061 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, at the junction of I-691 and Route 10. The coffee shop features a beautiful and inviting interior lobby/dining room along with a drive-thru.

The new Starbucks is open daily from 5am to 9pm!

Starbucks is just the latest new tenant to open in the complex. Saybrook Home, Blender Bar, BIRDCODE, Shake Shack, Chipotle, Harvey & Lewis, Choice Pet, Barnes & Noble, and others have opened in recent months. Whole Foods Market will open their doors on February 5th and TJ Maxx is tentatively scheduled to open on March 12!

BIRDCODE is planning a new location in Plainville!

The locally owned chain is planning to open a location at 359 New Britain Avenue in Plainville according to building department documents; joining the plaza with Shangri-La, DORO Marketplace, and Jersey Mike's!

Permits applications were recently filed with the town to install new Birdcode signage on the building by Hartford Sign & Design LLC. Birdcode announced plans for a Plainville location at their Cheshire opening; though did not disclose where at the time.

Birdcode is a West Hartford-based chain of Nashville Hot Chicken restaurants. Their menu consists of chicken sandwiches, tenders, and bites with 5 different spice levels from Country (the most mild) up to Code Breaker (eat at your own risk). The menu also has salads, fries, banana pudding, coleslaw, cookies, and much more.
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The chain now has 5 locations in Connecticut including Cheshire, West Hartford, Vernon, Darien, and New Britain. The restaurant plans to add 8 additional locations in 2026, both in Connecticut and outside the State.

A new sandwich shop has opened in New Britain!

Retro Subs has opened their doors at 269 Beaver Street in New Britain! The building was previously home to The Frosty Mug. The new restaurant serves sandwiches in throwback atmosphere!

The new eatery has a 1990s theme; with music posters, records, and memorabilia plastered throughout the dining room. You’ll also find a DJ inside periodically; spinning some throwback hits while you eat.

On their menu you’ll find traditional cold and hot subs including ham, turkey, meatballs, chicken cutlet, steak & cheese, and much more! Serve with choice of veggies, condiments, sauces, spices, etc.

Join them for their grand opening on January 23rd from 11am-9pm. They will be having opening day festivities, live DJ, and offering a free can of soda with every sub purchase!
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Find them at 269 Beaver Street in New Britain!

A pop-up restaurant concept is coming to New Haven!

The Red Sauce Joint by GIOIA is returning to New Haven for a another season! The pop-up restaurant serve will be running from January 16th through April 26th on the restaurant's heated rooftop space over looking Wooster Street in New Haven.

The Red Sauce Joint features a menu with classic and Italian-American cuisine and craft cocktails. The restaurant pop-up will be open for walk-ins on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-10pm and their new 'Sunday Sauce with Friends' by reservation only. Tickets/Reservations for Sunday Sauce can be purchased here:
https://www.gioianewhaven.com/calendar

'Sunday Sauce with Friends' features a monthly guest chef with their own iteration of the 'Red Sauce' menu. 'Sunday Sauce with Friends' features a slow-simmered family-style dinner for hungry guests including a pre-fixe menu of 4 courses with curated pairings. Guests chefs include:
-January 18th ~ Renee Touponce & Corey Lein from The Port of Call & Oyster Club in Mystic
-February 22nd ~ Dan Kardos from Café Melba in Milford
-March 22nd ~ Joel Gargano from Grano Arso in Chester
-April 26 ~ Andy Kitki from Carlotto in New York City
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Gioia Cafe & Bar is located at 150 Wooster Street in New Haven. The restaurant features numerous concepts under one roof including their cafe & bar, a Gelateria, Market, and their rooftop restaurant. Find more info on them here: https://www.gioianewhaven.com/

A new drive-thru coffee shop is planned for Meriden!

A new coffee shop (shown as Teddy's Coffee on the elevations though that might not be the final name) is coming soon to 1133 East Main Street in Meriden; the vacant site next to Popeyes. The new building will be 2,460 square feet including an exterior patio, drive thru, and new EV chargers.

The owner of the property is Teddy's Stores LLC; who also operates the gas station nearby. No timeline has been announced for their opening.
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A Starbucks was allegedly eyed for the site with site plans approved back in 2021. These plans never moved into construction in the past 5 years; though changes including the EV chargers were approved recently by the Zoning Board of Appeals with the Starbucks name replaced with Teddy's Coffee on supporting materials.

A pizza shop chain is opening their first CT location in East Hartford!

Singas Famous Pizza is coming soon to East Hartford! The new pizza shop will be located at 1210 Main Street (20 Burnside Ave) in East Hartford; the former Subway space near Snipes.

The pizza chain serves greek-style pizzas, wings, sandwiches, pastas, and much more! Singas Famous Pizza was founded in New York in 1967 and has expanded to 37 locations and counting spread across the United States. Read more about them on their website here: https://singaspizzas.com/

The pizza shop will renovate the former Subway eatery; including extensive changes and new finishes. Work has not started yet; with plans sitting with the building department for permit issuance.
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Look for them to open later this year!

Oxford's new independent bookstore has set their opening date!

Teddy's Best Reads will open their doors on January 17th at 306 Center Rock Green in Oxford, part of the Quarry Walk complex. The new community-focused bookstore features cozy-reads for a chaotic world.

In addition to books the store will carry a variety of gifts, gift baskets, candles, chocolates, and more! The store will feature most major genres of books including fiction, non-fiction, kids, romance, cook books, and much more!

Teddy's Best Reads is owned by Sharon and Charles Muir; avid readers and former English majors. The store is named after the couple's Aussie-lab mix.
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The new store will open this Saturday, 01/17, from 10am-6pm!

A new grocery store is coming soon to West Haven!

C-Town Supermarkets is coming soon to the former Rite Aid store at 70 Elm Street in West Haven! The new store will be roughly 11,000 square feet including 2 new planned additions. The existing store will be extensively renovated into the new grocery store according to the site plan application filed in November.

The owners of the new West Haven location also own C-Town Supermarket locations in New Britain and Meriden according to the application. C-Town Supermarkets are locally owned and operated.

C-Town Supermarkets usually have typical grocery departments like produce, meat, seafood, deli, bakery, and usually have an expansive prepared food section.
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The West Haven Planning & Zoning Commission approved the site plan with conditions, to be submitted on a revised site plan. The new store is expected to create 20-30 part time & full time jobs.

Volare Mexican Restaurant & Bar has permamently closed their doors in Franklin.

The restaurant was located at 10 CT-32 in Franklin, CT. Volare opened their doors in late February of 2025 and permanently closed them in recent days according to their website.

The restaurant served authentic Mexican flavors in an upscale atmosphere. All Volare gift cards can be used at Prime 82, their sister restaurant in Norwich.
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No word yet on what might replace Volare. What would you like to see open in their space?

Get ready ABBA fans! A fun event is coming to Hamden this month!

Gimme Gimme Disco is bringing a ABBA themed rave to Hamden’s Space Ballroom! The event will take place on Saturday January 17th starting at 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm!

If you can’t get enough of ABBA, boy do they have THE dance party for you! Gimme Gimme Disco is a DJ based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA tracks, plus plenty of other disco hits from the 70s & 80's like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Cher, & so much more. So honey honey, take-a-chance and you’ll be dancing all night long. Grab tickets, put on your best disco attire, bring your friends, and have the best night of your life!

Tickets start at $23.60. Buy your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../gimme-gimme-disco-tickets...
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Find the event at 295 Treadwell Street in Hamden, CT

The BOP Coffee Roastery is celebrating their soft opening 01/09-01/11 from 8am-12pm

The new coffee shop is located at 150 Broad Street in Windsor; part of Founders Square. BOP stands for ‘Blood of Paradise’ a nod to Wallace Steven’s poem ‘Sunday Morning.’

The new shop is the flagship location for the coffee shop! They currently have a location on Pratt Street in Hartford; they also have a manufacturing space at Parkville Market in Hartford.

The new shop aims to be "A place to meet a friend or two for a light breakfast, lunch, or happy hour. A comfortable and intimate third place that serves all the coffees we roast and teas we source, as well as craft cocktails, local ciders, and beautiful wines.”

Check them out at 150 Broad Street in Windsor!
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Check out the other tenants Founders Square has to offer including Moneta Moments Bakery, The Blue Dragonfly Gift Shop, The Lil' Plant Shop, First Town Real Estate, and others.

A new gym is coming soon to Torrington!

Crunch Fitness is coming to Torrington this summer! The chain announced they have leased 31,500 square feet of space in Torrington for a new location!

The gym will occupy the former Big Lots store at 1931 East Main Street in Torrington! Crunch Fitness’s Matthew Smith announced the location late last year.

The new location is expected to open this summer; featuring their new 3.0 format. The gym will have a full premium training experience, including expansive strength and cardio equipment, functional turf training, Olympic lifting platforms, the HIITZone™ small-group training experience, recovery options such as hydromassage, and a robust schedule of group fitness classes.

Crunch Fitness currently has a lone CT location in Norwalk; but previously operated in Wethersfield, Stratford, Orange, and others. The chain will open another new location this summer in Southington, with more in development.
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Stay tuned for more information!

A new restaurant is opening soon in East Haven!

Adé (pronounced ‘Ah Day’) is coming soon to 212 Main Street in East Haven! The new restaurant will feature Nigerian cuisine.

Get ready to experience the vibrant flavors of authentic Nigerian cuisine, where every dish tells a story of tradition and taste. From our aromatic Jollof rice and hearty swallow bowls to savory meat pies and traditional puff puff, bringing the rich, bold flavors of West Africa to your plate.

Their diverse menu features classic favorites like Jollof rice, Egusi soup, Efo Riro, and perfectly seasoned grilled meats, all prepared with time-honored recipes and the finest ingredients.
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Look for them to open soon at 212 Main Street in East Haven!

A new restaurant is being proposed for a historic building in Historic Wethersfield!

A new Southern-Italian restaurant has been proposed for the historic Chester Buckley House at 184 Main Street in Historic Wethersfield. The home is currently used as a bed and breakfast.

The restaurant would be an upscale eatery serving Sicilian cuisine, seafood, ever-changing seasonal flavors, and other Southern-Italian favorites. The eatery would be open for lunch and dinner and would create 20 jobs according to their town application.

An outdoor patio is planned for the property. The restaurant would also host private events, wine nights, and other fun happenings. Project is subject to local approvals.
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Stay tuned for more information!

Shah’s Halal will celebrate their grand opening in Bristol on January 16th!

The new halal eatery is located at 728 Farmington Avenue in Bristol. Join them for free platter on January 16th from 1-3pm to celebrate their grand opening in Bristol. The restaurant is a franchise, meaning it is locally owned and operated.
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Make sure you stop in and grab your free platter on Janaury 16th!

A new restaurant is coming soon to Franklin Avenue; replacing a once-popular eatery!

Joey B's Restaurant is coming soon to 615 Franklin Avenue in Hartford; the former home of a once-popular restaurant. The restaurant is located close to the Wethersfield border in Hartford. ​

This will be the second location for Joey B's, the restaurant's original location is in Berlin. Joey B's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner including traditional favorites, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and much more. Find their full menu here: https://eatatjoeybs.com/food-menu

Joey B's originally opened in 2020; replacing the Starlight Diner on Mill Street. The business expanded in 2025; adding Joey B's Local Scoop as a ice cream and gelato shop with dozens of flavors. 
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The new Hartford location is expected to open this spring; pending renovations and licensing.

Chick Fil A has set the opening date for their new Bristol location!

The new Chick Fil A will open on January 15th at 6:30am! The new restaurant is located at 1249 Farmington Avenue in Bristol. The new location features dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, third-party delivery, catering and Mobile Thru.

Cows Eat for Free! To celebrate the opening, Chick Fil A is calling on the community to show their spots on opening day! Whether it’s a full cow suit or a simple cow-spotted accessory, Guests of all ages are invited to join the fun. Anyone who visits the restaurant on opening day dressed in cow attire can redeem one free entrée* or kid’s meal inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru.

Celebrating the opening with a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to support local hunger relief efforts of Connecticut Foodshare, a Feeding America partner food bank serving communities across Connecticut.

Check them out on January 15th!

Big Y World Class Market is coming soon to Orange!

The family owned grocery store chain will open at 200 Indian River Road in Orange; part of Colonial Commons shopping center. The grocery store will occupy roughly 53,000 square feet previously occupied by Christmas Tree Shops.

The announcement dashes the hopes of locals for a Stew Leonard’s store in the space. The Leonard family announced last year that they were in talks for the space; but negotiations stalled last year.
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The new Big Y store will open in Spring 2027.

Crepes Choupette will open their new West Hartford location on Thursday (01/08)!

The new crepery is located at 993 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford, the former Donut Crazy space. The restaurant was founded in New Haven and has since expanded to Westport and Darien.

Crêpes Choupette brings authentic French flavors and old world charm, serving savory buckwheat galettes and sweet crêpes in an Parisian atmosphere.

The menu includes a combination of sweet and savory options including Tartiflette (cheese, bacon, potatoes, onion), Compelte Jambon (cheese, egg, ham), Choupette (fig, arugula, proscuitto, goat cheese), Amourette (nutella strawberry), Saint Germain (nutella banana), and many more! You'll also find omelettes, salads, espresso drinks, other delicious items.

Find them at 993 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford or online at https://www.crepeschoupette.com
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Open daily from 8am-4pm

Metro Movies has permanently closed in Middletown.

The independently owned movie theater was located at 140 Main Street in Middletown, part of the Metro Square Shopping Center.

The movie theater’s closure was abrupt; but the leasing company has been advertising the space for lease for a few months. The theater operated for 27 years under different names.
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What would you like to see replace Metro Movies? Comment below?

GameStop is permanently closing multiple locations throughout Connecticut. Numerous locations permanently closed at the end of business today.

Locations closing/already closed include:
-Enfield, 90 Elm Street at the Enfield Square Mall (Closed)
-Stratford, 411 Barnum Avenue at Stratford Square Shopping Center (Closed)
-Lisbon, 157 River Road at Lisbon Landing (Closed)
-Waterbury, 495 Union Street at Brass Mill Center
-Newington, 2997 Berlin Turnpike (Closing on 01/15)
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More locations could also be closing. Stay tuned for any updated.

Main Street Market in Middletown is becoming The Clock Tower!

The marketplace is located at 386 Main Street in Middletown; home to many local small business! The Clock Tower is a cute mall-like atmosphere with a mix of eatery, shops, and office space.

The Clock Tower is home to A Pocketful of Posies, Celtic Cavern, Perk on Main, Pokemoto, Moon Caster, East Coast Collectibles, The HandMade Hub, Middlesex Shades & Blinds, and many other small businesses.

Read our full post from our ‘Local Gems’ series here: https://www.theconnecticutscoop.com/.../hidden-gem-main...
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Make sure to stop in to their delicious restaurants, cozy cafés, unique shops, stylish boutiques, modern offices, and creative workspaces.

The 196 Club is Hartford has temporarily closed their Hartford speakeasy but will soon reopen under new ownership!

The bar is located at 196 Trumbull Street in Hartford; hidden inside Emrey’s Specialty Sweets & Sodas. The club serves small bites and craft cocktails.

The speakeasy temporarily closed after their New Year’s Eve bash with plans to reopen after brief renovations.
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Look for them to reopen later this year!

A new restaurant is coming soon to Wallingford!

Luce Osteria is coming soon to 295 Parker Farm Road in Wallingford; in the old Laskara Mediterranean Cuisine space.

The new restaurant is owned by Ristorante Luce of Hamden. Established in 1992, Luce has been family-owned for over 30 years, offering an exceptional dining experience.

“The Luce Restaurant Group (LRG) is proud to announce a second location coming to Wallingford, CT bringing over 35 years of continued excellence and dedication to our craft!”, according to their announcement.
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Look for them to open soon!